“I wish someone had told me at 25 what I know at 35 — because my bank account would look very different right now.”
Sis, let’s talk about something nobody told you. You probably think a financial advisor is for people who already have money, right? Like, you need a six-figure salary and a 401(k) that makes your friends jealous before you even think about calling one.
Girl, stop that right now. That is a lie the financial industry sold you so you’d stay scared and broke.
The truth? You need a financial advisor by 35 — and I am not saying this to stress you out. I am saying this because I watched my roommate cry over $40,000 in student loans at 28 while her friend who started working with an advisor at 24 was buying a condo. Same degree. Same starting salary. Different choices.
Why 35? Why Not 25 or 45?
Listen, I know you are busy. You are juggling tuition, roommates who leave their hair in the shower drain, a first job that pays in “exposure,” and dating apps that drain your soul. The last thing you want is another adult telling you to “be responsible with your money.”
But here is the thing — your 20s are for figuring out who you are. Your early 30s? That is when the consequences of your financial decisions start knocking at your door. By 35, you have enough income history, enough debt patterns, and enough life experience that a financial advisor can actually do something game-changing for you.
Think about it. At 25, your biggest concern is whether your credit score is high enough to rent that apartment without a co-signer. At 35, you are wondering if you can afford a house, a wedding, a baby, or maybe just a really good therapist. The stakes are higher. The math matters more.
💡 Quick Tip
You do not need a fancy referral to find a good financial advisor. Start with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) — they only list fee-only advisors, which means they do not make commissions off selling you products you do not need. Free database, zero BS.
The Math That Will Make You Mad
Okay, I am about to drop some numbers on you. Stay with me.
Let us say you are 25 and you start putting $200 a month into an index fund. By 35, you have about $34,000 if the market does average things. Not life-changing, right? But here is where a financial advisor changes everything — because they do not just help you save. They help you optimize.
A good financial advisor looks at your entire picture. They see that you are paying $45 a month in bank fees because you never switched to a credit union. They notice you are missing out on a 401(k) match at work — free money you are literally leaving on the table. They catch that your “low interest” student loan actually has a variable rate that is about to spike.
The difference between someone who works with an advisor and someone who does not? Studies show it is about 3% more in annual returns on average. That does not sound like much until you realize that 3% compounded over 10 years on a $50,000 portfolio is almost $20,000. Let that sink in.
Women who work with a financial advisor save an average of $7,000 more per year than those who don’t.
That is not a flex. That is a fact. And it is not because women who hire advisors are richer. It is because the advisor stops them from making the same mistakes we all make — impulse spending, keeping too much cash in checking accounts, ignoring retirement because it feels far away.
💊 What Works: “The Simple Path to Wealth” by JL Collins – This book is basically a financial advisor in paperback. It teaches you the exact system most advisors use, so you walk into your first meeting already knowing the lingo. Under $15 on Amazon and will save you thousands.
What Actually Works: Finding Your Person
Okay, so you are sold on the idea. But how do you actually find a financial advisor who is not going to try to sell you whole life insurance or some sketchy annuity?
First, understand the three types of advisors out there. Because not all of them are looking out for you.
You want a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisor. Fiduciary means they are legally required to put your interests ahead of theirs. Fee-only means they charge you directly — usually $150-$300 per hour or a flat annual fee — rather than taking commissions from companies whose products they sell you.
I know that sounds expensive. But girl, one session with a good financial advisor can save you more than the cost of the meeting. They will catch things like: you are paying $200 a year in unnecessary bank fees, you are missing a $3,000 employer match on your 401(k), or you are carrying credit card debt at 22% interest that could be consolidated.
[Imagine a GIF of a woman looking relieved while looking at her phone — because that is you after your first advisor meeting]
The Truth Nobody Tells You
Here is something I wish someone had told me at 24. A financial advisor is not just for investing. They are for life planning.
Your financial advisor should know about your student loans, your credit card debt, your dream of starting a business, your fear that you will never afford a house, your complicated relationship with your parents’ money expectations, and yes — even your dating life. Because who you marry or move in with is the biggest financial decision most women make, and nobody talks about it.
A good financial advisor will ask you about your partner’s credit score. They will help you set up a prenup conversation without it feeling like a breakup. They will show you how to protect yourself if you take time off for kids. They will tell you the cold hard truth about that “passion project” that is bleeding money.
“Your financial advisor should be the one person in your life who tells you the truth about money — without judgment and without an agenda.”
And here is the part that really gets me. Women are socialized to be “good girls” with money. We are taught to save, to be conservative, to not take risks. Meanwhile, men are taught to invest, to negotiate, to build wealth. A financial advisor who understands women’s unique challenges can help you unlearn that conditioning.
They will tell you it is okay to invest aggressively in your 20s and 30s because you have time to recover from market dips. They will remind you that your income is your biggest wealth-building tool and help you figure out how to increase it. They will validate that you are not crazy for wanting financial independence before marriage.
This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real.
Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey.
[Imagine a GIF of a woman high-fiving her friend — because that is the energy you deserve in your financial life]
Start Here: Your 3-Step Plan to Find an Advisor by 35
I am not going to leave you with a bunch of inspiration and no action. Here is exactly what to do.
Your Financial Advisor Action Plan:
✅ Step 1: Go to NAPFA.org and search for fee-only fiduciaries in your area. Filter for ones who work with young professionals or women specifically.
✅ Step 2: Schedule a 15-minute introductory call with 2-3 advisors. Ask them: “How do you get paid?” “Do you have a minimum account size?” “Have you worked with someone in my situation before?” If they hesitate on any answer, move on.
✅ Step 3: Before your first paid session, gather your documents: last 3 pay stubs, all debt statements (student loans, credit cards, car loans), any investment accounts, and a rough monthly budget. The more you bring, the more they can help.
If you cannot afford a full advisor yet — and I know that is real for a lot of you — start with a robo-advisor like Betterment or Wealthfront. They are basically automated financial advisor services that cost a fraction of a human. Set it up, put in $50 a month, and let the algorithm do the work. When your portfolio hits $50,000, then you graduate to a human advisor.
You might also love this article — one of our most shared.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Here is the thing, girl. The financial industry was not built for us. It was built by men, for men, assuming you have a husband who handles all of it. But you and I both know that is not reality anymore.
Women live longer than men. We earn less over our lifetimes due to the wage gap and career breaks. We are more likely to be caregivers for aging parents. We face unique financial challenges that a generic financial advisor might not understand.
That is why you need to find a financial advisor who gets it. Someone who will not condescend to you. Someone who will explain the jargon without making you feel stupid for not knowing it. Someone who sees you as a whole person with dreams and fears, not just a portfolio number.
And listen — if your first financial advisor meeting feels awkward or uncomfortable, fire them. You are the client. You are paying them. They work for you. The same way you would not keep a hairstylist who butchered your highlights, do not keep an advisor who makes you feel small.
I know talking about money feels vulnerable. It feels easier to just ignore it and hope it works out. But sis, hope is not a strategy. And you deserve better than crossing your fingers and praying your credit score magically fixes itself.
You are not behind. You are not broken. You are just getting started. And the fact that you are reading this right now means you are already ahead of most people your age.
So here is your homework. This week, go to NAPFA.org and find one financial advisor to interview. Just one. Send the email. Make the call. See what happens. The worst they can say is they are not taking new clients. The best? You start building a financial future that actually works for you.
And when you do? Come back and tell me about it. I want to hear your win.
This Is Your Sign to Stop Doing It Alone
Women inside TechMae have been exactly where you are. Come find your people — the ones who will hype you up when you pay off a credit card, celebrate when you land a raise, and remind you that you are not crazy for wanting financial freedom.
